23 Jun 2015

Gaborone City Council (GCC) anticipates to have spent 25 per cent of its current budget by June.

Addresing a full council meeting, Councilor Kagiso Thutlwe said GCC has been given P321, 106, 430 and has already expended P54, 859, 482. He said that the amount represents 17 per cent of the targeted budget.

“We have collected rates arrears amounting to P14, 338, 585.11, and this is inclusive of P3, 386, 027.62 collected through First National Bank Botswana while P217, 750.60 was collected through Barclays Bank Botswana. The remainder was paid over the counter at Civic Centre,” he said.

He  indicated that the council has billed over 49 000 plots an amount of P100, 400, 555.41  and implored councillors to encourage people to pay rates so that the council continue to deliver services.

He further said a leasing policy for GCC’s open spaces is being developed adding that after completion of the process, the council will be able to lease out its open spaces to various stakeholders.

“In this regard, thirty-two (32) open spaces will be given to Ward Development Committees and development of such open spaces will be guided by the type of land use prescribed for those open spaces,” said Cllr Thutlwe.

Speaking on infrastructure under council management, he indicated that street lights, roads and storm water drainage under maintenance and construction are in a bad state.

“We need at least P1.1 billion to be able to bring all these to a standard befitting a diamond city and I still reiterate statements made by my predecessor and lobby for more funds to make these improvements for a better city, and to enhance trading,” he said.

He updated that primary school backlog eradication at Galaletsang and Taung primary schools is nearing completion.

“Three classroom blocks and two ablution blocks at Galaletsang have been completed and handed over to the school for use  while two classroom blocks and two toilet blocks at Taung are nearing completion,” he said.

He indicated that phase one of the building works for staff housing at plot 36144 in Block 8 is nearing completion. Cllr Thutlwe further said the last phase of the project entails civil works, power and sewer reticulation. It will start on June 22 and is expected to be complete by October 2015. Ends